Using a Virtual Background in Zoom

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Have you gotten all set up and ready to host a Zoom meeting or record a lecture only to realize that the background of your video is not what you want? Or maybe you didn’t get that far – you’ve spent time contemplating what room of your house or angle in your office not only provides good light but also a pleasant backdrop. 

Zoom has a feature that can take away some of those considerations: virtual backgrounds. They provide a few default options, and you can also upload your own backgrounds. And this is where the good news gets better. Cedarville has created backgrounds featuring views of campus, the interiors of some buildings, and some neutral patterns you can use in your meetings. 

How do I get the backgrounds? 

The backgrounds are located on Creative Services’ Cedarville Brand Resources page. You’ll have to log in to access the files. To download a Cedarville background, simply click the thumbnail. Once it’s on your computer, I recommend moving it to a place that’s easy to find – I have a folder on my desktop that holds the backgrounds I’ve downloaded. Once you have the images in an easy-to-find place, you’re ready to add them to Zoom. 

How do I set a virtual background in Zoom? 

You can only set a background either while you have a meeting open (you don’t need any participants/students present) or through the Zoom app settings. 

Set a background in a meeting

1. Click the arrow on the right of “video” at the bottom left of your screen.
2. Click “Choose virtual background.” 
3. Here, you can select an existing background or add a new background.
   1. To add a new background, click the small plus button and select “add image.” 
   2. Find the image you want to use for your background, select it, and click “open.”
4. Close the settings window. 

Set a background in the Zoom app

1. Open the Zoom app installed on your computer.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner. 
3. Click “virtual background” from the menu. 
4. Here, you can select an existing background or add a new background.
   1. To add a new background, click the small plus button and select “add image.” 
   2. Find the image you want to use for your background, select it, and click “open.”
5. Close the settings window. 

Now you’re all good to go with your new virtual background in Zoom. 

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